As I Roved Out

Tommy Makem

As I roved out on a May morning

On a May morning right early

I met my love upon the way

Oh, Lord but she was early



Chorus:

And she sang lilt-a-doodle, lilt-a-doodle, lilt-a-doodle-dee,-

And she hi-di-lan-di-dee, and she hi-di-lan-di-dee and she lan- day



Her boots were black and her stockings white

And her buckles shone like silver

She had a dark and a rolling eye

And her ear-rings tipped her shoulder



Chorus



"What age are you my bonny wee lass

What age are you my honey?"

Right modestly she answered me

"I'll be seventeen on Sunday"



Chorus



"Where do you live my bonny wee lass

Where do you live my honey?"

"In a wee house up on the top of the hill

And I live there with my mammy"



Chorus



"If I went to the house on the top of the hill

When the moon was shining clearly

Would you arise and let me in

And your mammy not to hear you?"



Chorus



I went to the house on the top of the hill

When the moon was shining clearly

She arose to let me in

But her mammy chanced to hear her



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She caught her by the hair of the head

And down to the room she brought her

And with the butt of a hazel twig

She was the well-beat daughter



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"Will you marry me now my soldier lad

Will you marry me now or never?

Will you marry me now my soldier lad

For you see I'm done forever"



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"I can't marry you my bonny wee lass

I can't marry you my honey

For I have got a wife at home

And how could I disown her?"



Chorus



A pint at night is my delight

And a gallon in the morning

The old women are my heart break

But the young ones is my darling



Chorus